Revealed: Saraki’s group planning to ensure Deputy Senate President comes from PDP in 9th Senate

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The outgoing President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, and other PDP senators are reportedly planning to influence the emergence of new leaders of the 9th Senate.

Findings revealed that Saraki, having lost his re-election bid for Kwara Central Senatorial District, was working on how to remain relevant in national politics.

Speaking to PunchNG on the development, a source close to the scheme said, “Saraki is leading an influential group in the Senate, comprising principally the PDP senators and some members of the APC caucus who crave his influence to win the support of the PDP caucus.

“He is still working on the 2015 template with which he emerged as Senate President with the candidate of the opposition PDP caucus, Ike Ekweremadu, as Deputy Senate President.”

It was gathered that the PDP group met last week at the Maitama residence of Saraki where some PDP senators-elect were said to have decided to influence the emergence of new Senate leaders.

The group was said to have agreed to work with and support any APC senator that was amenable to its proposal of retaining the position of the Deputy Senate President.

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According to the source, “The group has come up with Plans “A”, “B” and “C”, preparatory to the horse-trading that is expected to characterise the race for the position of the Senate President.

“The group’s Plan A is to sponsor one of them for the position of the Senate President in the event that two or more members of the APC caucus present themselves for the position on the floor of the Senate.

“If it becomes difficult for the group to activate Plan “A”, it was agreed that it should support Senator Danjuma Goje (APC, Gombe in North East) who, according to members of the group, was more amenable; and, they believe that with him, they could win the position of Deputy Senate President.

“The group’s Plan “C” in case plans “A” and “B” fail is to support Senator Ahmed Lawan who they believe would not act to adversely affect the group’s interests.”

Also speaking, another source said, “We have 42 senators-elect already. We need just about 14 senators from the APC to disagree with the zoning arrangement of the party and pitch their tents with the PDP.

“The APC cannot afford to have two candidates for the position of the Senate President. If they do, the PDP will take over, either directly or by putting a friendly person there.

“Our meeting last week was to ensure that we act in unity in order to strengthen our relevance in the 9th Senate.”

In his reaction to the alleged plan, the Senate Leader and Senate Presidential hopeful, Ahmad Lawan, noted that his colleagues would act in unity to ensure that the APC takes over the leadership of the 9th Senate.

Lawan said, “We have learnt our lessons as a party. I believe that the issue of the National Assembly leadership will be given maximum attention to ensure that the two chambers have leadership that would function well and collaborate well with the executive for good governance.

“Many of us in the APC believe that we are going to listen to what our party will advise us to do and follow our party’s instructions.

“I don’t think that there is a single senator-elect who wants to antagonise or challenge the leadership of the party and naturally, we are expecting that the leadership of our party will come out with suggestions on the way and manner that the leadership of the 9th National Assembly will emerge.

“We are looking forward to all party members, as committed progressives, to obey what our party and our leaders would want us to do.

“I believe that our party and leaders will turn their attention to how the leadership of the two chambers of the National Assembly would be constituted as soon as the supplementary elections are over.

“They say once beaten, twice shy. We cannot possibly forget, very quickly, what we have been going through in the last four years or so.”

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